To wonder how people will financially survive?

[Cupcakeicecream]

To think that many people are struggling already. Food price rises, gas and electric costs. The general cost of living due to inflation from either brexit since the pandemic and Ukraine war. But come on some people were struggling before any of those factors. Financially people will be pushed to breaking christmas will be off the cards general life will stagnate no meals out leisure activities cinema socialising new clothes treat foods. The threat of blackouts and wondering how we will pay bills to keep warm or keep a house running. Never mind buying food the price of it plus the large gaps on shelves. Winter will be miserable. It's becoming impossible to live in this country.

What's going to stop it?

I'm genuinely confused then what people are expecting the government to do? If not lump sums or freezing the cap? Genuine question as there seem to be lots of more knowledgeable people on here than me and the media keep saying help is coming...what can that be

Electing a new government. The problem can’t be changed but the way it’s addressed can be. Labour has a perfectly realistic and costed strategy to ameliorate it.

So much unnecessary drama. Nobody is going to die. Relax! Have a hot bath and put your feet up, read a book. Stop feeding the drama

@EverydayIsPJday have a look at what Macron has done in France. There are loads of things they could do but they won’t because they are wedded to the idea of business above welfare.

We are basically going back 40-50years. During my childhood we didn’t have radiators in our bedrooms and Ice on the inside of the windows during winter was a regular occurrence . The log burner would be lit and we would heat the living room. The rest of the rooms would be cold. We would have to light the fire to generate hot Water to take a bath. My kids are going to get a huge shock, but if it was good enough for me it’s good enough for them and maybe they’ll turn out to be slightly less entitled little shits than they are now who think the world owes them something. And yes it would appear that’s my fault and the fault of social media but hey ho- I’m looking forward to it in a weird kind of way!

Why can't they do a windfall tax on the likes of Centrica and Shell

Why was Ofcom allowed to do 4 price cap reviews when it used to be 2 per year

Not sure about former - I haven’t heard from many economists but it’s not complete support for windfall tax again and again but I need to hear more

On latter it is better in this climate, various groups asking for it as the jump was so high after 6 months

It’ll also come down faster when it finally happens with a three month change

It’s hard though you feel a bit battered by the constant media reports re new caps each three months

Not Conservative apparently. Despite Thatcher having used windfall taxes. I reckon they’re desperate to get out of power and let someone else clean up the mess.

so you will put a windfall tax on their production from other countries? i am sure the other countries would put a stop to that and windfall tax them locally

Yes, I've never felt so depressed tbh. It's truly awful

We are quite frugal anyway but the goalposts keep moving

I feel so
Sorry for those in the breadline

Economically, an easy win is to rejoin EU.

Whether that's politically possibly depends on whether Brexiters (also the demographic going to be most impacted this Winter) have changed their mind and prioritised trade over xenophobia.

Why is the price going up when the companies make millions profit, should the government re nationalised them ie gas water and electricity

I actually agree! We have become accustomed to a life that we need to accept that we cannot afford - both money wise and in terms of sustainability.

It's going to be very difficult for sure. I was already struggling for a long time because I'm disabled. I've always been pretty good at managing money but like many just find that I can't cut out much more. Even the essentials now have really gone up in price. thinking about heating for the winter is going to be a struggle

How is re-joining the EU going to help? The cost of electricity, fuel and food is rising astronomically there too.

I hope they are listening to you.

I think that’s already happening. Local news reports in the last couple of weeks about explosions and fires, and vague about the cause.

How the hell can someone on basic UC of 300 odd quid per month possibly heat their homes, purchase and cook food and afford other essentials? Or even the state pensioners? It's just not feasible. I'm thinking struggling older people or anyone with significant equity in their homes should do equity release so they can survive and bollocks to possible future care fees.🖕

Maybe the kids can do without modern medicine as well just to teach them a lesson for being so spoiled bit of polio never did me any harm!

Labour has a perfectly realistic and costed strategy to ameliorate it

Labour's calculations do not add up according to Full Fact today;

Freezing the price cap would cost consumers, energy companies or the government around £8 billion more than Labour says in its plans, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), which analysed the figures after discussion with Full Fact.

Our own analysis suggests that Labour’s plan contains a shortfall of around £5 billion for direct debit customers alone, and an additional shortfall for other types of customer.

fullfact.org/economy/labour-energy-bills-seasonal-consumption/

Means testing is a race to the bottom. Realistically the thresholds would be set so low that people genuinely struggling would miss out on much needed hep even if they were only a few pence over the threshold. Advocating for more of it just means more people will get into unmanageable debt.

How can anyone believe joining the EU would help? Germany has the highest fuel costs of anyone at the moment.

People will adjust their lifestyles and get by.

Yep, my thoughts too. I actually think Labour have been quiet over the last couple of years because they don't want to do it either. At least they had the brains to see it coming though.